Superhero Registration is open
Click Here to register to be a Superhero for Clinton County children who have experienced abuse and neglect.
Sponsorship Information is available at the office.
2018 Event Schedule
8:00 a.m. Registration Opens
8:00 a.m. Costume Contest Judging Begins (Winners announced after the Kids’ Super Dash)
9:00 a.m. Kids’ Super Dash
9:30 a.m. All Superheroes Take Off
Lots of fun activities
– Bounce house
– Face painting
– Coloring Superhero masks
– Superhero cutouts for pictures and selfies
Superheroes courtesy of The League of Enchantment
– DJ with fun music
– Costume Contest
– The League of Enchantment
– Lots of fabulous Superheroes for Children
Looking for gifts?
Looking for a unique, thoughtful Easter or Mothers Day gift? Check out the many options at the Clinton County Arts Gallary.
Susan Fernholz is back. Pop into the Gallery and check it out. Their newest artist, Paul Matheson, brings to the Gallery some very beautiful, handcrafted tables and tube lights.
Builders Club Pancake Breakfast
The Builders Club held their annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, March 17. Thirty-two members, along with teacher-advisor, Cortny Toomey, and co-chair advisors, Dave Kudwa and Laura Mullaney, served 122 breakfasts and turned in $812 to the Veterans for Memorial Flags fund.
A Look Back – The Painter
by Barry Clark Bauer
Warren Anderson worked at the post office following World War II. He was a brother to Dorr (Andy) Anderson, the grocer.
In a past posting Warren Anderson’s paintings appeared in a display at Central National Bank. Before moving to St. Johns Warren studied art and had been a working artist in New York City.
Mrs. Judy Bolyard of Middleton visited the Friends of the Library Art Exhibit at the Central National Bank last week. The paintings on first pole are, “Lakeside” by Warren Anderson, and “Daffodils” by Georgiana Kelly.
On the second pole, “Countryside” by Gladys Schueller, “Driftwood with Bottle” by Betty Penix, and “Fruit Still Life” by Joan Ernst.
On the third pole, “Paysages d’Alsace” by William Morris, and “Owl” by Romaine DeCamp. The large painting at right is “Quiet Sea” by Warren Anderson.
Bennie and Jessie’s Pet Info – Diabetes in Dogs: Type 1 vs. Type 2
Courtesy of Hanie Elfenbein, DVM
Diabetes in dogs is not a death sentence. It takes dedication, but your dog can still live a long, happy life. Diabetes means that the body is unable to use glucose (sugar) appropriately. This leads to high levels of sugar in the blood, which can cause many health problems.
Just like humans, our pets can get both Type I and Type II diabetes. Type I diabetes is also known as insulin-deficiency. It is due to the body’s inability to produce insulin. Insulin is normally produced in the pancreas and is important in helping cells use glucose (sugar), the basic energy source. Our digestive systems are designed to turn food into glucose for cells to use. Without insulin, glucose cannot get into cells. People and animals with Type I diabetes need to be given insulin so that their body can use glucose.
Type II diabetes is known as insulin resistant diabetes. It happens when the pancreas makes insulin but the body’s cells do not respond to the insulin. Sometimes Type II diabetes can be reversed through weight loss and improvements in diet and exercise.
In our companions, dogs are more likely to develop Type I diabetes while cats are more likely to develop Type II diabetes. Some diseases and medications can also cause Type II diabetes in dogs. Fortunately for the animals with Type II diabetes, some will recover through diet and exercise. Unfortunately, once your pet develops Type I diabetes, it is not reversible.
Causes of Canine Diabetes
In dogs, Type I diabetes is caused by destruction of insulin producing cells in the pancreas. These cells die as a result of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis. Some dog breeds are predisposed to chronic pancreatitis and diabetes, including Keeshonds and Samoyeds.
Like humans and cats, obese dogs are at risk for developing Type II diabetes. So are dogs with Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism), intact (not spayed) female dogs, and those on glucocorticoid (steroid) medications.
Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs
Diabetes usually has a slow onset. Dogs start drinking more water and urinating more frequently and in larger amounts. They may even have accidents in the house. Dogs may also eat more while losing or maintaining weight. These symptoms are not specific to diabetes but indicate that you should have your dog examined by your veterinarian.
Excess sugar in the blood is excreted in urine. When there is sugar in urine, bacteria can grow and cause urinary tract infections and even bladder infections. Symptoms of these conditions include frequent urgent urinations, painful urination, urine that is bloody or smells bad, and excessive licking of the genitals. Your veterinarian will prescribe antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections.
Diabetes can cause high pressure within the eye, known as glaucoma. In humans, glaucoma is painful, often described as a bad headache that won’t go away. Dogs can lose vision or even need to have one or both eyes removed due to severe glaucoma that results from diabetes.
Treatment Options for Diabetic Dogs
Type I diabetic dogs require insulin after every meal. The specific amount and type of insulin will be determined by your veterinarian. It frequently takes several months to determine the most effective treatment plan for each individual dog. This is because there are many types of insulin available to meet dogs’ unique needs. Pet parents of diabetic dogs become very good at giving insulin, which must be injected under the skin.
Initial treatment plans for both Type I and Type II diabetes generally include weight management and exercise, which help stabilize blood sugar. Intact female dogs should be spayed. Treatment for diabetes may also necessitate changes to your dog’s other medications. Your veterinarian may recommend that your dog eat specific high fiber, low simple carbohydrate foods. The number of meals your dog eats per day may also be an important part of diabetes management. All of these decisions are best discussed with a veterinarian who knows your dog and your lifestyle. Often, making a consistent schedule for feeding and exercise are important parts of diabetes management.
Diabetes is a chronic disease. This means that it can be managed over a long period of time. However, treatment may change over time. Your veterinarian will monitor your dog’s blood glucose, performing a blood glucose curve, taking measurements every one to two hours over 12 to 24 hours. Your veterinarian is looking to see how high your dog’s blood sugar gets and then how low it drops. This indicates how well the body is responding to insulin and will be periodically reevaluated throughout your dog’s life.
Diabetic Emergency in Dogs
Very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is a medical emergency and can be caused by giving too much insulin or giving insulin at the wrong time. Signs of hypoglycemia include trembling, restlessness, or inability to rise. Vomiting, lethargy, sweet-smelling breath, and rapid breathing may be signs of ketoacidosis, also a medical emergency. If your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, discuss an emergency management plan with your veterinarian.
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Claw and Nail Disorders in Cats
Nail and nail bed disorders may refer to any abnormality or disease that affects the claws or the surrounding area. The disorders are generally known as dystrophies. One type of nail disorder, paronychia, is an infection that causes inflammation of the tissue around the nail or claw. Onychomycosis, or fungal infection, can also occur in and around the nail bed.
Cats may exhibit extremely brittle nails (onychorrhexis), or have nails that separate, peel, and slough excessively (onychomadesis). Most nail or nail bed disorders have an excellent treatment prognosis and can be remedied in a relatively short amount of time.
Symptoms and Types
Common signs of nail or nail bed disorders can include:
– Licking at the paws
– Lameness, difficulty walking
– Pain in the feet
– Swelling or redness of the tissues surrounding the nails
– Nail plate deformity (the part of the nail that overlays the nail bed)
– Abnormal nail color
Causes
Some of the most common causes for nail or nail bed disorders can include:
– Infection
– Bacteria or fungus
– Tumor or cancer
– Trauma
– Immune system (immune-mediated) diseases
– Excessive levels of growth hormone
– Disorders present at birth (congenital)
– Cutting the nails too close to the nail bed (making them susceptible to infection)
– Neoplasia
Diagnosis
In the event that your cat is suffering from a trauma to the nail bed, you will want to check to see if it has affected only a single nail. If multiple nails are being affected, a serious underlying medical condition is the more likely cause for the disorder. A skin scraping may be taken to determine what type of a skin condition your cat is experiencing, and a bacterial or fungal culture may also be taken for further analysis.
Treatment
Treatment will be dependent upon the particular underlying medical condition that is causing the nail or nail bed condition. If the nail area is inflamed, surgical removal of the nail plate (the hard portion) may be necessary to encourage drainage of the underlying tissue. Antimicrobial soaks can also be effective for reducing inflammation and encouraging the healing process. If the condition is related to a bacteria or a fungus, topical treatments and/or ointments are often administered to the affected area.
Living and Management
In most cases, application of the topical treatment or ointment will clear up any nail issues. While there are typically not many serious complications that can arise from these disorders, it is important to observe your cat’s recovery and to act promptly if healing does not progress in a positive direction.
Prevention
One way to protect your cat from suffering a nail injury or disorder is to avoid cutting too close to the nail bed (the quick) when trimming the nails. Nicks to the skin can occur, opening your cat to infection as it goes about its normal routine (i.e., using the litter box, exploring). It is essential to look closely at your cat’s nails before cutting them, so that you can determine exactly where the quick of the nail is – that is, the part of the nail bed that overlays the tissue and blood vessels. You do not want cut into that part of the nail; only the free edge that extends past the nail bed should be trimmed. Researching the proper way to cut your cat’s nails, paying close attention, and promptly cleansing the area when an inadvertent injury does occur will go a long way toward protecting your cat from a painful nail disorder or trauma.